There are some "top" lists you just don't want to be a part of.
Alas, Chicago leads Orkin’s list of top 50 bed bug cities, the locations with the most treatments by the pest control service for bed bugs. The Windy City ranked second in 2012 and moved up the list to first-place in 2013.
"Because bed bugs move easily from one place to another, they can be challenging to control and costly to treat, especially if they are unknowingly brought into the home," the company said in a statement.
Entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison said the list shows that bed bugs continue to be a problem throughout the U.S.
“Based on the diversity of cities on the list, we all need to be very cautious when we travel—whether it is business or pleasure, or to visit family, friends or vacation," Harrison said. "We need to be vigilant wherever we are and take the proper precautions.”
Adam Greenberg, Northbrook-based founder of USBedBugs.com, told IncWell the unwanted pests have become big business in the last couple years.
Greenberg, who started off with a medical-supply website, realized his customers were using his mattress covers to protect against bed bugs.
"You just listen to these stories about how it took people months and months to get rid of them, they had trouble sleeping, and it was costing people thousands of dollars," Greenberg said.
